Xavier received a call from Sam Anthamatten and the Freeride World Tour to see if he would like to go and scope potential competition faces in China, with conditions still poor in Europe he packed his bags and headed back East to Changbai Mountain.

Changabaishan “Ever White Mountain” Volcano has an illustrious history, and is known as the “Holy Mountain of the Revolution” in North Korea, where Kim-Jong Il was apparently born under a double rainbow.  The South Koreans and Chinese also hold the volcano sacred and the border is disputed, with South Korea claiming the whole of Caldera/Heaven Lake as its own.  With cameras and “guides” everywhere it is not a place to mess about, which is exactly what Xavier and Sam planned to do.

100kmph winds and temperatures of -40°C restricted play for the first two days and the team explored the lower mountain discovering the scary snowpack, a consequence of the extremely low temperatures, which results in a thick wind crust over a layer of fresh powder all sat on an extremely deep layer of marbles, ready to roll at the lightest contact.

Day three and the sun finally appeared with a calm 50kmph of wind and the game was on.  Knowing the snow conditions, wind, overhanging cornices, the team made their escape from the unshakeable guides/guards, to get to an icy traverse in search of a safer, more protected entry into the volcano. 

Riding conservative lines down to the frozen lake, Sam and Xavier stood on meter thick ice to look back up at a myriad of lines and impressive couloirs, they had found the spot.

Traversing out to the West gate having entered via the North gate -Changbaishan is a national park and entry is only possible through government controlled gates- the team worked their way down through disused tunnels to meet Dania, their translator, who had not had a good day having been held at the West gate on discovery of the teams departure into the volcano.

The Police, Military and Environmental Agency were informed of the misadventures and the team was banned from setting foot on Changbaishan Mountain.  The team had no choice but to leave the beautiful terrain they had finally discovered, they packed their bags and took the first flight to Beijing for more culinary inspired challenges involving scorpions, snakes and silkworms.